Seismic surveyors searching for oil and gas in Mohave County

GOLDEN VALLEY, Ariz. — A group of seismic surveyors has begun searching
for oil and gas in Mohave County.

According to their permit with the Mohave County Public Works department, the
group from Nodal Seismic, a California-based geophysical firm, has been
permitted “to access public rights-of-way for the purpose of conducting
exploratory geophysical operations through the greater Golden Valley area.”

Mohave County Public Works director Steven Latoski said that Mohave County’s
involvement in the seismic testing is strictly limited to issuing the permit,
and that “this is a private company, with nothing commissioned by Mohave
County.”

Nodal Seismic has brought in four vibrating trucks to measure and record
seismic data along county roads, reported The Kingman Daily Miner. The area of testing covers a 110-mile spread across
Golden Valley.

Some residents have issued complaints about seeing the large equipment, said
county supervisor Jean Bishop.

“They were not notified in advance, and that was the biggest complaint,” said
Bishop. “The other complaints we’re getting is that they’re tearing up the
roads and that they look like military vehicles.”

Nodal Seismic could not be reached for comment.

Steven Rauzi from the Arizona Geological Survey said the potential for oil and
gas in the county is low. Previous exploration in the 1980s didn’t uncover much.

Bishop said residents could benefit if oil or gas were to be found in Golden
Valley.

“It could be good for economic development,” said Bishop. “Land values would
increase. The people that live in Golden Valley, they live there because it’s
remote and quiet. It would be a big change in lifestyle, if they hit big pockets
of oil.”

The Nodal Seismic operations are scheduled to continue in the Golden Valley
area through August.